Month 11, Day 18: Me llamo Max

Not Maxwell, Maximilian, Maxie, Maxim, Maximo, or Maximus. My name is just Max. But oh, my life is anything but "just." It's exciting all around the clock. Here is a 24-hour glimpse of the life of "just Max."

(News update: Tooth number seven poked through over the weekend. Thirteen more to go!)

11/21/09, 7.30pm: Trying on an early birthday gift from Mama and Papa Harr. It's in my favorite theme (Sock Monkeys!).


11/21/09, 8pm: Brushing my teeth like a good little boy. Grandma California would be so proud.



11/22/09, 7.00am: Reading the morning news during breakfast. Kind of depressing these days.


Ah, some good news at last! It's going to be sunny today.


11/22/09, 8am: Helping mom with the laundry fresh from the dryer. Are there any socks in here?

"Welcome to my hot tub!"

11/22/09, 12.30pm: This is what I call my "Naked Lunch" - nothing but a diaper and a bib.

The view from an unlucky spoon. I like to drop things from far above in my high chair to hear the sound it makes and test out my "Uh-oh's."

11/22/09, 6pm: Dad made me an awesome tunnel. It was our first "man-project" and totally rocks. Can't wait to have Leks and Stanley check it out.

Doing a test run on the way to the bath.

11/22/09, 9pm: I'm pooped. After a day like today, I like to sleep up against the sides of the crib and stick my piggies through the slats. I managed to kick off both socks tonight. Ah, socks. I like socks. And monkeys.

Month 11, Day 12: Mom's First B-Day as Mom

Mom had the best birthday ever - her first one as a mom. Can't beat it. Max even helped with eating the cake (his first time, although his own birthday is just weeks away). From the looks of it, we think it's safe to say that he likes cake.

Dad requested that daycare do a little Max-project in honor of Mom. The handiwork is below - an 8-page card that no Hallmark card in the world could match. Mom cried.

"This is my coloring"

"This is texture feel" [sic]

"This is my beautiful painting"

"My favorite book to look at."

"It's me Max having a great day at daycare"

"Here are some of my favorite things"

"This is me and my friends. Love Max 11/16/09" (Mom's verdict: Max is the cutest baby around)

Month 11, Day 11 - Max on the Potomac

In keeping with the last few weekends, we hit another nearby park -- Great Falls on the Potomac -- to take advantage of the nice fall weather on Sunday afternoon. Everyone else, it seemed, had the same idea. It took us a half-hour to get from the entrance of the park to the admission gate (something that probably woud have taken three minutes tops in no traffic). Fortunately, Dad had picked up some snacks before getting to the park, and therefore Max and Mom didn't have to deal with a very grumpy bear.

.

The falls were nice, but the place definitely had a distinct touristy feel with everyone jostling on the observation decks for pictures.

"Mom, can I go rock-climbing? Can I? Can I?"

Max is skeptical, wondering if Dad's going to "almost" drop him again...

Month 11, Day 7: Maxin' Around

Here are some shots of Max horsing around at home today.

Watch out, the Snot Monster is coming to get you.

Viewer's discretion advised for the following image!! It will make grandmas across the country cry.

.

Monday morning (a few days before the picture below was taken), Mom made the horrible mistake of putting her travel mug on the floor next to her purse while getting ready for work. In lickety-split time, Max crawled over, picked up the mug, and spilled some of the contents on his foot (so much for the travel mug being spill-proof). After crying a bit, he seemed to be okay, but we took him to the doctor that evening since his skin blistered. He's doing great (as you can see from the above pictures), but per the doctor's advice, we keep it covered with ointment and gauze. Rest assured, Mom will never make the same mistake again. :(

Month 11, Day 4: Max in the Meadow

We followed all that chili on Saturday with a visit to Huntley Meadows Park in Alexandria on Sunday. It was a great outing - the park is a wetland with a boardwalk that takes you through a large stand of cattails and meanders by a small lake with an observation tower.

We got there later in the day, so the low sun was often in Max's eyes.

Max and Mom on the boardwalk amid the cattails.

Dad and Max having fun near the water. The dots to Max's left are three Canadian geese slumbering on a log.

Max was pretty tuckered out and was deep asleep when we got home.